Pulmonary Edema Following Ritodrine–Saline Infusion in Premature Labor

Twenty-three patients with premature uterine contractions occurring between the 27th and 35th weeks of pregnancy were treated in a prospective and randomized study with intravenous ritodrine in a 0.1 wt/vol% solution of isotonic saline (N= 12) or isotonic glucose (N= 11). The aim of the study was to record the effects of these agents on the water- salt metabolism. In both the saline and the glucose groups there was a statistically significant fall in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum albumin (P